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Opinion: Guest Opinions

George Gerstle: Fourmile Canyon plan still evolving

By George Gerstle

Posted:
12/11/2015 07:40:40 PM MST

Significant portions of Fourmile Canyon Drive were completely destroyed during the 2013 flood. The existing road was built quickly and was only intended to be temporary as it was not engineered to withstand significant runoff or normal roadway use; therefore, we cannot leave it in its current condition. Our goals for rebuilding the flood damaged sections of Fourmile Canyon Road are to: 1) create a road that will withstand future flooding and will remain navigable after water subsides ; 2) make the road safer for all users; 3) reduce the impact of flooding on residents living adjacent to the roadway; 4) maintain the canyon's special character; and, 5) minimize impacts on the canyon's ecosystem.

Because of the close relationship between the creek and the road, Boulder County Transportation sponsored development of the Fourmile Creek Watershed Master Plan (Plan), which provides information and direction on restoration of the damaged creek ecosystem as well as how we can design the road to reflect Plan guidance. The Plan recommends that the road design minimize encroachment into the creek to the degree possible. To that end, we have funded, in collaboration with the Fourmile Creek Watershed Coalition, design of the full creek rehabilitation adjacent to the damaged lengths of the road, and are working closely with the coalition and others to fund and incorporate creek recovery as part of permanent road repairs.

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Since the 2013 flood, Boulder County Transportation has hosted four public meetings and has met individually with property owners within the construction zones to learn more and gain perspective as we move forward with permanent repair designs. The sentiment to place priority on protecting the creek was confirmed by most people who attended early public meetings and was incorporated into the initial design for repair of the road. However, during recent public meetings and comment, we heard significant concern from canyon residents and the public about the visual impact associated with the rock removal needed if we are to minimize impacts to the creek.

In response to these concerns, we developed a second scenario that avoids the need for any significant rock removal, allowing us (and the community) to understand the trade-offs and implications of the two scenarios; one that minimizes creek impacts, and the other that minimizes rocks cuts. The rock removal scenario focuses on reducing impacts to the creek and requires fewer retaining walls, but has more rock cuts on the uphill side of the road. The zero rock removal scenario eliminates any cuts, but has a greater impact on the creek. Naturally, each of these scenarios has different impacts, and there are trade-offs between the two concepts.

We have also heard many comments both opposing and supporting inclusion of an uphill shoulder as part of permanent flood repairs. The shoulder improves safety for all users by providing space for motor vehicles to pass slower moving bicyclists and pedestrians with minimal impact since the space the shoulder occupies also benefits roadway drainage, provides minimal distance between the edge of travel lane and the rock face, and catches rock and debris that may fall from the hillside (all concerns we have heard during our public outreach).

There are many bicyclists currently using the canyon and the volume will only increase in the future. It has been county policy for many years to incorporate measures that increase safety for all road users when we reconstruct roads. The proposed uphill shoulders are eligible for reimbursement by FEMA since they are consistent with our adopted Transportation Master Plan and Multimodal Standards, both of which were adopted prior to the flood.

In addition to the public and individual homeowner meetings, we have also made both options available on the project website — www.4MileCanyon.com. The public can provide comment on the plans via an online survey to let us know which elements of each option, or combination of options, are preferred. We will use survey responses, property owner feedback, comments from public meetings, recommendations of the Watershed Master Plan, and best engineering practices to create a "hybrid" option that balances various interests as best we can. This design will be presented for public comment early next year.

Clearly, many people feel strongly about the future of this beautiful canyon. We will do our best to balance all competing interests in a responsible manner as we rebuild this important road that serves both local residents and visitors from throughout the county.

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